Mark Filip is a partner in Kirkland’s Chicago and Washington, D.C. offices. Mark leads the Firm’s government enforcement defense and internal investigations group, and he serves as one of 15 members of the Firm’s worldwide management committee.

Mark has deep experience in both private practice and in government service. In private practice, he leads internal investigations for a wide array of boards and companies, which involve activities and alleged management failings in numerous industries, settings, and countries around the world, including investigations concerning workplace sexual misconduct and harassment. Mark also represents, for example, several multi-national healthcare companies in government investigations concerning their core products, and he led the government investigations defense of BP following the Deepwater Horizon Gulf of Mexico tragedy. Mark also helped defend General Motors in its recent criminal proceedings in the Southern District of New York. Overall, his clients have included some of the largest financial institutions in the world, and Fortune 500 companies in diverse industries including professional sports, energy, defense contracting, mining, agricultural production, gaming, and heavy infrastructure. His experience includes investigations by the Department of Justice, the Securities and Exchange Commission, the Federal Trade Commission, the Department of Labor, the Environmental Protection Agency, the Department of Defense, the Department of Homeland Security, Congress, state attorneys general offices, and foreign regulators, as well as special board committees convened in response to shareholder demands.

On the civil side, Mark has an active class action defense practice. This includes, for example, a broad securities practice for clients in a variety of industries. Mark has extensive experience with the federal Multi-District Litigation process, and has served as a judge in class action matters during his tenure on the federal bench, and as an advocate in such cases in private practice. He is also a fellow in the American College of Trial Lawyers.

Prior to joining Kirkland, Mark was at the U.S. Department of Justice, where he served as Deputy Attorney General of the United States after being unanimously confirmed by the U.S. Senate. As Deputy Attorney General, Mark was second-in-command of the Justice Department and oversaw all of its criminal and civil enforcement efforts. He interacted regularly with the DOJ Inspector General, concerning, among other issues, workplace sexual harassment and misconduct allegations. He also represented the Justice Department in its interactions with Congress, the White House, and other cabinet-level Departments, as well as with numerous foreign governments. Mark served as Acting Attorney General after the inauguration of President Obama, until U.S. Attorney General Eric Holder was confirmed. As a result of his public service, Mark has held numerous high-level security clearances and has successfully passed numerous extensive FBI and other background checks.

Prior to serving as Deputy Attorney General, Mark spent four years as a federal judge on the U.S. District Court for the Northern District of Illinois after being confirmed 96-0 by the U.S. Senate. During his time as a trial judge in Chicago, Mark presided over a full docket of federal cases, including lawsuits concerning workplace discrimination and harassment of all types, intellectual property disputes, securities law, criminal law, antitrust issues, and a wide variety of commercial and property disputes.

As a young attorney, Mark served as an Assistant U.S. Attorney in Chicago, where he prosecuted a broad variety of criminal cases, including political, judicial, and police corruption, and financial and tax fraud.

Memberships & Affiliations

One of four members of bi-partisan U.S. Secret Service Protective Mission Panel, which reported to Congress and the White House concerning its recommendations to improve the U.S. Secret Service’s performance and capability to protect the White House and President (2014–15)

Appointed as member of U.S. Judicial Conference's Advisory Committee on Federal Criminal Rules

Chairman Emeritus, Board of Directors, University of Illinois Alumni Association

Member, Board of Visitors, Duke University School of Law

Other Distinctions

Recognized as being among the world’s leading investigations lawyers by Who’s Who Legal: Investigations

Fellow, American College of Trial Lawyers

Honored by Martindale-Hubbell with the AV Preeminent™ award for The Highest Possible Ranking in Both Legal Ability & Ethical Standards

Chambers USA for both Litigation: General Commercial and White-Collar Crime & Government Investigations

Awards

Chicago Legal Aid Bureau's 2008 William H. Avery Award for Commitment to Pro Bono Legal Work and Public and Community Service